All Creation Is Family: St. Francis’ Vision for a Divided World

Nearly eight centuries ago, St. Francis of Assisi lived 44 years, yet his spirit continues to inspire the world today. What makes St. Francis and his spirituality so transformative?

He saw creation as sacred, a place where God’s presence is alive. He called the sun his brother, the moon his sister — all creation was his family. Because everything is born of God, it was worthy of respect and reverence. This perspective goes far beyond environmental slogans about protecting the earth for survival; it invites a profound awareness of our place in the universe. As St. Paul wrote, “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). This truth reminds us that God’s presence is not distant but intimately woven into every part of creation, calling us to recognize the sacred in all things.

St. Francis’ spirituality also enables us to see other human beings as sacred, bearing the indestructible divine image. When we see others in this way, we can connect with them with deep reverence and love — calling them our brothers and sisters. Today, the world seems more divided than ever, with superficial differences like religion, language, color, status, or wealth separating us. Beneath these differences lies one truth: we all come from God, carry God within, and will one day return to God.

Recognizing the sacred in everyone and everything can transform how we relate to the world. Only by seeing creation as family can we counter division, suspicion, and hostility. St. Francis’ vision challenges us: can we dare to see the sacred in all things?

“Seeing the sacred in everything can heal a divided world.”